SANCTUARY FEATURE: Grazing towards sustainability

Livestock grazing allows MOD to provide a realistic training and working landscape, but is becoming more difficult, due to a national decline in numbers of suitable livestock.

Over the past two years Defence Estates (DE) has been an active partner in the Grazing Advice Partnership (GAP). Together with Welsh partner PONT, GAP has supported our site managers' grazing needs across the UK.

DE Environmental Advisor Mr Richard Snow said:

"These schemes have taken forward our conservation grazing management and bridged the gap between graziers, landowners, government departments, research and conservation organisations.

"As well as enhancing the conservation benefits of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the defence estate, GAP has provided training, technical information, workshops and a biannual conference."

GAP recently sought new investing partners. Defence Training Estates (DTE), Natural England, Rare Breed Survival Trust and the National Trust all stepped up to support the scheme with three years' funding.

GAP now intends to broaden its approach to a wider audience of land managers and into mainstream agriculture.

Mr Richard Snow said:

"GAP support is vital in helping MOD establish grazing management into the most challenging of our locations," Richard explained. "Closer alignment between DE, our tenants and GAP will bring big long-term benefits."

Successful examples of managed grazing include: using red deer and goats to improve the SSSI at Pirbright Ranges in the Home Counties; introducing Highland cows in Barry Buddon in Scotland; and using ponies on the coastal grasslands of Manobier Range in Pembrokeshire.

Owned and managed by MOD since 1854, Ash Ranges is part of the DTE Home Counties. It supports nine small arms ranges. These are vital for military training and used by thousands of personnel every year.

This project aims to establish a sustainable range management system and improve the condition of the SSSI. The complex covers 977 hectares of lowland heath and woodland between Aldershot and Guildford. The ranges are open to the public when red flags come down at 4.30pm or firing stops for maintenance.

Richard Snow continued:

"The site is one of the most important conservation areas in southern England. It supports a range of threatened species. These include sand lizard, smooth snake, tiger beetle and silver-studded blue butterflies."

Most of the site's six SSSI units were in declining condition five years ago. However, DE and Landmarc Support Services have worked with Natural England, the Wildlife Trusts, local councils, Heritage Lottery Fund and the MOD Conservation Group for Ash and Pirbright to reverse this decline.

DE was keen to introduce grazing onto all or part of Ash Ranges. The organisation secured agreements with Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) to provide conservation grazing and management on the DTE lowland heath.

DE led this project seeking financial support from the MOD SSSI improvement project. The fenced Range Danger Area was targeted for grazing and 600 hectares of land was enclosed with cattle grids and gates to allow military training and public access.

In the summer of 2008, SWT released 35 Belted Galloway cattle onto the site. Thirty more animals followed in 2009. Cattle are owned and managed by SWT and the intention is to build a herd of up to 150 over the next few years.

DE Senior Estates Advisor Jonathan Gasson said:

"This is a fantastic achievement for all concerned and the culmination of two years of planning and preparation. The whole project is an excellent example of what can be achieved through innovative thinking and organisations working together to achieve a common aim."

This article first appeared in the 2009 edition of Sanctuary Magazine, which you can access by following the Related Link on the right hand side of this page.